15-Year-Old Student Sues Federal Government Over University Admission Age Policy

 

A 15-year-old Senior Secondary School (SSS) student, Chinaemere Opara, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Universities Commission (NUC) over the government's policy that limits university admissions to applicants aged 18 and above.

In July, Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman announced that from 2025, candidates under 18 years of age would be barred from sitting for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), a key requirement for university admission. This announcement sparked widespread debate, leading to a temporary adjustment allowing students as young as 16 to apply for higher education this year.

Opara, represented by his father and legal guardian, Maxwell Opara, filed the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 14, 2024. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1512/2024, challenges the policy as discriminatory and unconstitutional.

In his motion, Opara is seeking a court declaration that the age restriction for university admissions violates his rights under Section 42 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution and various articles of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. He contends that the policy infringes on his right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and equal access to public services, including education.

Opara further argues that the policy limits his ability to decide when to take the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or JAMB exams, impeding his educational aspirations. He is asking the court to issue an injunction preventing the government from enforcing the policy and to nullify the age restriction altogether.

In the affidavit supporting the suit, Maxwell Opara stated that his son, a current SS2 student, is directly impacted by the age limitation. He emphasized that there is no law in Nigeria setting an age barrier for university admission and expressed confidence in his son's ability to perform well in exams and secure admission into medical school by the 2025/2026 academic year.

The case has not yet been assigned to a judge. When contacted, Ministry of Education spokesperson Mrs. Folasade Boriowo said the ministry was unaware of the lawsuit but acknowledged that discussions on the minimum age policy are ongoing. “Meetings are being held to fine-tune the process, and I wonder why some people would rush to court,” Boriowo said.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for young students across Nigeria who aspire to enter university before the age of 18.